Mr Gonelevu and Ms Waqanika have levelled serious allegations of misconduct and interference at the trio, saying their dismissal had to do with the saga surrounding the sharing of the sevens series live feed and Fiji TV's refusal to compromise its exclusive agreement with World Rugby.

And the pair said they would consider legal action on their dismissal but would not rush the process.

In a press conference yesterday, Mr Gonelevu alleged the interference in Fiji TV matters extended to the point where Ministry of Justice officials...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 8, 2015) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believes it is time to conduct a full accounting of funds or potential funds of some Commonwealth Utilities Corp. projects.

EPA, through U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Enforcement Section senior attorney Bradley R. O’Brien, stated that the accounting request is not an academic exercise but a reckoning that is necessary to reveal the extent of the funding that will be available to the Engineering and Environmental Management Company, which is necessary for EEMC’s future planning, and CUC’s attempt to shift funding responsibilities to the detriment of the EEMC and to the benefit of CUC.

"The United States is not accusing CUC of improprieties, but believes that a full financial accounting, firm financial and project commitments, plainly stated contract intentions, a description of...

In the National Court yesterday, he successfully referred an application of provisions of constitutional laws relating to his referral by the Public Prosecutor to the Supreme Court.

This means the tribunal has been temporarily halted until the Supreme Court rules on the constitutional issues.

The tribunal comprises retired New Zealand judge Sir Peter Blanchard (chairman) and members retired Australian Federal Court judge John von Boussa and Justice Salatiel Lenalia who were appointed last November 27 to inquire into the alleged misconduct against the PM.

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Jan. 8, 2015) – Nine complaints of infringement of Electoral Procedure by candidates in the November 2014 General Election have been filed with the Electoral Commission, said Pita Vuki the Electoral Commissioner yesterday, 7 January.

Pita said that three of the complaints are against candidates who were not elected, and nine are against People’s Representatives who won seats.

The Commissioner admitted that it was going to be a long process to address the complaints. After he received the response from the candidates to the complaints he would present them to the Attorney General, who would then decide if there were cases to answer.

Pita said that complaints had been filed against all of the Vava’u PRs; Samiu Vaipulu, ‘Etuate Lavulavu and Saia Piukala.

There had been no complaints from the Niuas, Ha’apai and ‘Eua electorates.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 8, 2015) – The start of 2015 automatically means the start of Bougainville’s Referendum period which under the Bougainville Peace Agreement should be held between 2015 and 2020.

With the opening of this window the Bougainville Executive Council has sanctioned the creation of a new Department; the Office for the Bougainville Referendum.

ABG President Chief Dr John Momis said the new department will manage and coordinate the government’s relationship with the National Government in seeing the successful implementation of Bougainville’s Referendum.

"Bougainville’s Referendum will determine the ultimate political future of Bougainville," the President said.

"We must all be ready to decide fairly and without fear the choice for our next political destination for we have struggled long and hard and this is the goal that we desire so...

The dialysis center passed a CMS survey last year but the survey team found one standard-level deficiency–the lack of a renal dietitian that is registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The matter has already been corrected by CHCC.

In an email to Muna, CMS Division of Survey and Certification nurse consultant Ed Q. Japinta said that the Commonwealth Health Center’s dialysis center’s plan of correction has been accepted.

"The plan of correction following the revisit survey conducted on Sept. 15, 2014, was accepted and therefore, CHC ESRD dialysis center is back in compliance," Japinta said.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 9, 2015) – The Indonesian Government has raised issues of great concern that the smuggling of goods from Papua New Guinea is now increasing at an alarming rate.

Already there are plans to have more meetings with PNG authorities to address these issues now that the two countries are engaged in many business activities.

Goods such as sea cucumbers and fish stomach, as well as marijuana are often smuggled across the border.

This has indicated that the Indonesian-PNG border is rife with illegal smuggling, especially at parts of Merauke, Papua, and Daru in PNG, according to Indonesian defence intelligence officials.

Yesterday the Merauke naval base commander Brigadier General Buyung Lalana issued a statement to the media in Indonesia citing specific areas that were prone to smuggling due to limited equipment, such as motorboats.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 9, 2015) – Tonga Tourism has defended criticism the sector is flailing, saying tourism has increased by 20 percent in the last year and will continue to grow in 2015.

An industry-led body, the Tonga Tourism Association, said the former government had weak tourism policies and did not effectively work with the sector.

Its president, Saia Moehau, has also called for the appointment of a new tourism minister, saying the current one, Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, has no experience.

But the general manager of government-funded Tonga Tourism, Stuart Perry, says Dr Tu'i'onetoa has only been in the role for four days and is confident in his abilities.

Mr Perry says tourism is expanding and many businesses are reaping the benefits.

"We are seeing a growth in the industry, we're seeing certainly a growth in new development. There has been a...

The case was put off as police investigations are yet to be completed.

The case follows an official complaint by the Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, who asked police to investigate allegations surrounding payments of more than 300,000 US dollars by Mr Carcasses to 14 opposition MPs.

Our correspondent says according to a reliable government source the adjournment is to give more time to the government to prosecute the case.

In November, Mr Carcasses and the 14 accused MPs were suspended from parliament after Mr Natuman complained that they had breached the leadership code.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.